REDS' MacKay Named Bulger Award Recipient
(FREDERICTON, NB) Cole MacKay, of the Atlantic University Sport champion UNB REDS men’s hockey team, has been named as the recipient of the 2025 Cameron Bulger Memorial Award by Hockey Gives Blood.
The award, named in honour of the 9-year-old Bulger who passed away in 2020 following a three-year battle with brain cancer, recognizes one of Hockey Gives Blood’s player-ambassadors.
“It’s an incredible honour to receive the Cameron Bulger Memorial Award,” said MacKay. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Bulger family, Sharon, Glenn, and Zachariah, for allowing Cameron’s courage, kindness, and selflessness continue to inspire me. I’m truly humbled to be recognized in his name.”
The Bulger Award is presented to an individual deemed to have made a significant impact on the awareness and necessity of the work of Canadian Blood Services and who exhibits traits shown by Bulger during his short life including humility, dedication, and selflessness.
“Cole’s commitment and dedication as a player-ambassador has gone above and beyond in so many ways,” said Hockey Gives Blood co-founder Stu Middleton. “What stands out the most is his humility and kindness towards others, something Cameron was known for.”
A regular blood donor himself, MacKay has worked with fellow player-ambassador Payton Hargreaves of the REDS’ women’s hockey team in driving donors to Canadian Blood Services donor clinics and raising awareness of the growing need for blood donors.
“Player ambassadors like Cole play a vital role in raising awareness about the need for blood at a time when fewer than two percent of Canadians are active donors,” said Brandy Peters, a Community Development Manager with Canadian Blood Services. “By engaging and inspiring the youth demographic, player ambassadors like Cole play a key role in securing the future of blood donations and maintaining a steady, life-saving supply for generations to come.”
MacKay is the third recipient of the award, following Anna MacCara, a member of the STFX X-Women (2024), and Frankie Lapenna of the University of Ottawa GeeGees (2023).
“This is a team award, in every sense,” said MacKay. “I want to acknowledge my fellow player-ambassador Payton and all the work she does. I want to thank Stu and Hockey Gives Blood for giving student-athletes across the country a platform to make a real difference, and my teammates and our REDS administration, who’ve allowed Payton and I to be advocates for such a meaningful cause.”
“It’s rare to see someone maintain his level of commitment for so long,” said Middleton. “For five years, Cole has done his best to help others, specifically patients who rely on the life-saving efforts of Canadian Blood Services, all while being a busy student-athlete. Cole has inspired his teammates, the community, and more importantly the next generation of blood donors.”
MacKay recently graduated from UNB with a degree in Business Administration.
He played three seasons with the REDS, helping UNB to Atlantic conference titles in each season and back-to-back national championships in 2023 and 2024.
STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics
PHOTO BY: Evan Richtsfeld/UNB Athletics